Lighter-than-air water dispensing airship for fire control

ABSTRACT

A lighter-than-air airship system, primarily for the purpose of dispensing water over a raging fire, where access by personnel and ground equipment is difficult. The airship system comprises an aerodynamically configured structure having a semi-rigid keel or skeleton, where lift is provided by helium, with the keel mounting a liquid management mechanism consisting of a reservoir open to the outside for resupply of liquid or water, a conduit leading to a holding tank, and a piping distribution and nozzle assembly below the airship system to spray or dispense the liquid or water, like an artificial rain, over selected areas to control or distinguish the raging fire.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is directed to the field of airships, of the kind that can deliver quantities of water or other fire suppressant materials to forest fires, for example, where the particular airship hereof is a lighter-than-air vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a lighter-than-air, airship that offers particular utility as a fire control vehicle to dispense large quantities of water, i.e. man made rain, or other fire suppressant materials over out-of-control fire areas. Vast and furious forest fires are an unfortunate fact of life for many people, especially in the western states of the United States.

[0003] Forest fires are presently controlled by ground personnel using backfires and fire breaks, and by air drops of fire-fighting materials from helicopters and fixed wing airplanes. These methods put large numbers of personnel at risk and the payloads of fire-fighting aircraft are very small. The air drops are high impact, which are a danger to ground personnel and particularly inefficient because they are so concentrated. They are the equivalent of dropping a pail of water on a stadium fire.

[0004] A number of the different airborne types of fire fighting apparatus is illustrated and described in the following U.S. patents:

[0005] a.) U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,868, to Chadwick, teaches a bucket, for suspension from the cargo hook of a helicopter, where the bucket is provided with a plurality of valves and valve actuating means presenting a low profile and compact construction. The valve actuating means depend from arms extending inwardly from the bucket sides.

[0006] b.) U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,857, to Mason, relates to a container which may be filled by immersing the lower portion thereof into a fluid and allowing the fluid to enter the container through a main valve and a number of one-way secondary valves in this lower portion. The main valve is connected to a float which closes the valve when a predetermined level of fluid has entered the container. The secondary valves are closed by the action of the fluid when the container is raised from the reservoir of fluid. The main valve is held closed by a latch mechanism which may be tripped from a remote station allowing the valve to open and discharge the fluid from the container.

[0007] c.) U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,829, to Eason, describes an airborne fire suppression unit adaptable for installation on an aircraft, particularly, a helicopter, for fighting fires in locations inaccessible to other types of fire fighting equipment. The fire suppression unit comprises a fluid reservoir tank mountable on the floor within the aircraft body, a boom assembly having a nozzle mounted thereon adaptable for coupling with the reservoir tank and a motor-driven pump for directing fluid under pressure from the tank to the nozzle, all adapted for rapid detachable mounting to the aircraft. The boom assembly is mountable so as to extend the nozzle laterally from the aircraft, and is rotatably connected at its mounting point so as to reciprocate laterally with respect to the aircraft. The nozzle is pivotally secured to the extended end of the bottom to reciprocate in a substantially vertical plane. Manually powered control means, operable from within the aircraft to regulate the position of the boom assembly and nozzle, respectively, are provided. A suction conduit coupled with the pump inlet port and adaptable to extend from the helicopter into a body of fluid is provided to permit rapid refilling of the reservoir tank while a fire is in progress. Selectable valve means coupling the pump with the nozzle, tank and suction conduit, respectively, permit the pump to direct fluid either from the tank to the nozzle for fire-fighting purposes, or from the suction conduit to the tank for refilling purposes, or alternatively recirculate the fluid through the tank when neither the nozzle nor suction conduit are being utilized.

[0008] d.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,489, to Bonaparte, is directed to a forest fire extinguishing device comprising a projectile filled with an inert gas under pressure which is dropped into a fire and automatically disperses the gas. When the device impacts the ground, a plurality of ports are simultaneously opened, allowing the fire extinguishing material to be expelled over a prescribed area.

[0009] e.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,389, to MacDonald et al., teaches a fluid dispensing system for an aircraft. The system, between the open and closed positions, includes a bottom door panel controlling release of fluid from an airborne container containing the fluid, and is governed by both the height of the fluid in the container and the instantaneous position of the door panel.

[0010] f.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,571, to MacDonald, relates to an apparatus for producing a delayed foaming action in mixed liquids useful as suppressants for fire area control and curtailment of chemical spills. The apparatus is self-powered and sized to be transported to a target area by a variety of land and sea vehicles as delivery platforms. The apparatus is particularly designed for airborne delivery and is especially adaptable to helicopter applications.

[0011] g.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,717, to McBay et al., describes a fire extinguishing capsule for the cooling and quenching of destructive fires. The fire extinguishing capsule comprises two double-walled hemishapes which are sealed together by an equatorial belt seal which may be ruptured in order to disperse the extinguishant in the capsule. The capsule may be suspended from a hook and ladder system, for example, a helicopter in the case of forest fires, oil well fires, or transported by sled to a fire scene.

[0012] It is clear from the foregoing prior art that the traditional modes of fighting fires from aircraft type systems are limited to helicopters and fixed wing airplanes, all of which are heavier-than-air. The present invention represents a dramatic departure from the traditional modes by the use of a lighter-than-air vehicle, with means for the continuous supply of fire suppressing material, such as water, to virtually provide for a man made or artificial rain over the raging fire, particularly in remote areas where ground vehicles cannot reach the fire scene. The manner by which the present invention brings these goals to fruition will become more apparent in the description which follows, especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] This invention relates to a lighter-than-air, water dispensing airship system for fire control of fires where ground personnel may be in danger, or where access by vehicles may be limited. It should be noted that the system hereof has applicable uses other than fire control, such as fertilizing large fields, insect spraying along coastal or swampy regions, irrigation, air quality measurement and monitoring, and aerial seeding and reforestation. Notwithstanding the above, fire control remains the primary application of the system, hence the further description will be so limited for convenience and understanding.

[0014] The system of the invention comprises a lighter-than-air airship formed of a semi-rigid keel or skeleton within which helium is contained as the lifting force for the airship. Externally, the airship features a pilot cabin, plural engines, and stabilizing means for controlling the steering and hovering of the airship. In the preferred embodiment, the airship system includes a liquid storage and distribution mechanism, including an externally accessible reservoir for resupplying or replenishing the liquid for eventually distribution over the fire area. The liquid storage and distribution mechanism includes a storage tank in communication with the externally accessible reservoir, and a liquid distribution manifold extending from the storage tank to below the airship. The manifold may consist of plural distribution arms featuring arrays of nozzles that may be selective operated for the desired distribution pattern. To protect and insure the efficiency of the system hereof, various filters are incorporated into the mechanism to separate unwanted debris that may enter the water supply.

[0015] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a lighter-than-air airship system that includes a large payload capacity to develop and maintain a man made or artificial rainfall over selected areas of need, such as a forest fire.

[0016] Another object hereof is the provision of a means to provide refilling of the payload while the airship system remains in flight, thus providing an endless supply of water to a selected fire area.

[0017] A further object of the invention is a means to alternately fill the payload when the airship system is tethered to the ground, such that upon release the system will be immediately available for its intended activity.

[0018] These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and drawings which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a side view, with portions removed to reveal certain internal details, illustrating the operating system for the lighter-than-air vehicle of this invention, as it may be employed to suppress a raging fire.

[0020]FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial sectional view of the lighter-than-air vehicle of FIG. 1, showing the water receiving reservoir in communication with a water tank and water distribution mechanism.

[0021]FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a water manifold for the water distribution mechanism.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lighter-than-air vehicle of FIG. 1 showing one embodiment for the open water receiving reservoir forming part of the water distribution mechanism of this invention.

[0023]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial plan view for a filtering screen between the water receiving reservoir and the water tank hereof.

[0024]FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial side view of the filtering screen of FIG. 5.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate water reservoir system in the form of a portable tank that may be lifted into the lighter-than-air vehicle, where replenishing of the water supply may not be an easy task.

[0026]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded side view of a water distribution nozzle for the portable tank of FIG. 7.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate design for the lighter-than-air vehicle of this invention.

[0028]FIG. 10 is a partial, sectional view for alternate design of FIG. 9.

[0029]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate use for the lighter-than-air vehicle, such as carpet seeding of seedlings to remote and generally inaccessible areas.

[0030]FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of an alternate means for providing a continuous supply of water from a ground source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] The present invention is directed to a lighter-than-air airship system having the primary application as a vehicle for controlling and extinguishing fires. The airship system, with its details and variations will now be described with regard to the accompanying twelve Figures, where like reference numerals represent like components or features throughout the various views.

[0032] Turning now to the several Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred airship system 10 in an operating mode, i.e. applying water to a raging fire on the ground. The airship system 10 comprises a lighter-than-air vehicle 12 aerodynamically shaped to fly and hover over the ground. The vehicle includes a semi-rigid keel or skeleton 14 encased in a flexible skin 16, within which are closed modules or spheres containing helium, a non-combustible lighter-than-air gas, as known in the art. The airship system 10, to facilitate flying and hovering, further includes a pilot's cabin 18 for the flying personnel. Additionally, the airship system 10 incorporates a plurality of engines 20 and a tail stabilizing assembly 22, each of which are known in the art, to provide 3-axis stability and control. Pitch stability control of the airship system is maintained by weight transfers systems and ballasting where payload and ballast weight can be exchanged, practices known in the art.

[0033] Disposed essentially internally of the airship system 10 is a liquid management mechanism 24 comprising a reservoir 26 or catch basin having a sheet surface stabilized by webs, holding tank 28, manifold 30, and distribution piping and nozzles 32. As further seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the reservoir or catch basin is an internal recess 34 having a central drain 36 with a surface grate 38. It will be appreciated, as best illustrated in FIG. 1, that as a tanker type airplane deposits water in large quantities, it is important that means be provided to disperse and damp the incoming air-dropped delivery dynaimcs of the incoming water. That is a major function of the surface grate 38 and the flexible sheet surface of the reservoir. To control the resupplying traffic above the airship system 10 hereof, an air control tower 40, extending above the airship system toward the rear thereof, is provided.

[0034] Extending from the central drain 36 is a conduit 42 containing a series of alternating, opposing baffle elements 44 down to the holding tank 28 to absorb shock from the desending water. The holding tank 28, disposed essentially along the center of gravity of the airship system 10, is the direct source for the liquid, i.e. water, to be distributed through the manifold 30 and eventually through the distribution piping and nozzle assembly 32. Since the airship system hereof may be quite large, on the order of 300 yards in length, the holding tank 28 can have a large capacity. For airship systems of this size, the holding tank 28 may include an access door 46 with a ladder 48 to allow for personnel to enter the holding tank for cleaning and inspection. A final feature of the holding tank 28 is a lower drain opening 50 and conduit 52 which leads to the distribution piping and nozzle assembly 32.

[0035] The distribution piping and nozzle assembly 32 includes a manifold 54, see FIG. 3, connected directly to the conduit 52. Though not illustrated, as an alternative, the conduit 52 may include a remotely operated control valve to control the water feed through the distribution piping line 54, such as rectilinear or radial form, to the nozzles 56, which may include water pressure driven rotating or sweeping irrigation nozzles, spiral feeders or side ejection nozzles, all of which are known in the art. The manifold 54, in a preferred embodiment, comprises plural, parallel segments 58 leading from a feeding line 60, which in turn is in communication with conduit 52. The respective segments 58 terminate to a single distribution piping line 54. However, each said segment 58 may include a manual ball valve 62 (closed position shown in FIG. 3, with opened position shown in dotted lines), an intermediate removable filter screen 64 for cleaning, and finally an electronically controlled ball valve 66 with motor 68 for controlled water distribution. Extending from the single or plural distribution piping line 54 are plural nozzles 56, the design of which are well known in the art. To provide structural stability to the distribution piping and nozzle assembly 32, a network support 72 may be included by suspending same from the belly of the airship.

[0036] It will be appreciated that when the refiling vehicles, i.e. airplanes and helicopters, quickly fill its tanks with water, such as from a river or lake, where it is likely that some debris, fish or flow restricting contaminants may enter into the tanks. Accordingly, a series of filters and screens, from coarse to fine, may be provided to protect the liquid management mechanism 24 and to ensure its free flowing operation. The reservoir 26 may includes a “Kevlar”, a trademark, screen 74 spaced above the central drain 36, where a second purpose of the screen 74 is to withstand, in part, the impact of the entering water deposited by aircraft, see FIG. 1. At the central drain a further screen 76 may be provided, where FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two views of the latter screen. The screen 76 includes a screen lattice 78 surrounded by a slosh wall 80 to help control and direct the water to the conduit 42 and holding tank 28.

[0037]FIGS. 7 through 12 illustrate several alternative embodiments or features for the airship system, or uses for the airship system of this invention. FIG. 7 shows a road tranporting tanker 82, as known in the art, that may be temporarily secured within a cavity of the airship body, or suspended by cables 84 from the airship body. To facilitate loading and securing the tanker 82 to the airship body, a hinged ramp 86 may be provided. Dispensing means 88, connecting the tanker 82 to the piping and nozzle assembly 32, is provided. To provide a desired spray to the respective nozzles, a pair of intermatable nozzle heads 90, 92 may be incorporated into the system. Specifically, such nozzle may comprise a male nozzle head 90 to be connected to a female nozzle head 92, where the opening 94 includes a spray dispersing arms 96, see FIG. 8.

[0038]FIGS. 9 and 10 represent an alternate embodimant for the airship system 10′ according to this invention. The modified embodiment comprises a semi rigid encircling frame 100 within which are mounted plural helium containing spheres 102. Within the array of helium spheres is a contained recess 104, including a central drain 106 and filter screen 108, for collecting water deposited from flying aircraft, where the central drain is in communication with a liquid holding tank 110. The liquid holding tank, in turn, is in communication with a liquid dispensing plenum 112, see FIG. 9.

[0039] While the preferred application for the systems hereof is an effective means to provide fire control, FIG. 11 illustrates a new and different application. It will be understood that after a devastating fire it is critical that foilage be restored to the barren land. The process illustrated in FIG. 11 may be called ‘carpet seeding’. To accomplish the process, the airship system 10, 10′ may be retrofitted with a suspended tree sapling rack 120 containing plural tree saplings “T”. The saplings, as known for this process, are packed in biodegradable, aerodynamic pouches containing the requisite moisture and nutrients. When dropped from the airship system, the saplings are caused to penetrate the ground to allow the saplings to survive and grow, a particularly good and efficient system for reforestation of land.

[0040]FIG. 12 illustrates another mode of directing water to a localized fire, for example. The arrangement includes a suspended platform 122, such as made of aluminum, by cables 124, to receive an operator for manually directing liquid to the selected site. There may be alternate or cumulative supplies of water, namely gravity feed from the airship system via hose 126, or water supplied from a ground based tanker 128. The water distribution arrangement may include a transfer valve 130 to select the desired source of water or other liquid dispersing medium.

[0041] It is recognized that variations, changes and modifications may be made to the aerodynamic design of the airship system and components of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, a side opening reservoir or catch basin my be incorporated into the airship system. Accordingly, no limitation is intended to be imposed thereon except as set forth in the accompanying claims. 

1. A lighter-than-air airship system for dispersing large quantities of liquid while in a flight mode over defined ground areas, where lift for said airship system is achieved by means of helium confined therewithin, said airship system comprising: a.) a semi rigid, light-weight frame encased within a flexible skin and aerodynamically configured for flying and hovering over selected ground areas; b.) means for flying said airship system, where said means include a plurality of engines and attitude stabilizing mechanisms to provide 3-axis stability and control; and, c.) a liquid control and dispensing mechanism disposed primarily within said frame, said mechanism including, i.) a liquid holding tank positioned along the center of gravity of said airship system, ii.) a manifold in liquid communication with said holding tank, where said manifold includes means for controlling the quantity of liquid passing therethrough, and iii.) a liquid distribution, piping and nozzle assembly in liquid communication with said manifold, where said assembly is exposed below said frame.
 2. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 1, wherein said liquid control and dispensing mechanism further includes a reservoir, open to the exterior of said airship system, for receiving in-flight replenishing of liquid, to feed liquid to said holding tank.
 3. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 2, including a liquid passing conduit extending between said reservoir and said holding tank, and said conduit includes a series of baffle elements to minimize turbulence in the liquid passing therethrough.
 4. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 3, including a first debris collecting filtering screen within said reservoir, a second filtering screen between said reservoir and said liquid passing conduit, and a third filtering screen between said holding tank and said manifold.
 5. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 2, wherein said reservoir is defined by an opening and a predetermined depth, and said opening includes a criss-cross grating member.
 6. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 1, wherein said means for flying includes a pilot's cabin of a size to receive operating personnel.
 7. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 1, wherein said liquid distribution, piping and nozzle assembly is mounted within a supporting frame assembly secured to the underside of said airship system.
 8. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 1, wherein said manifold includes plural, parallel transmitting conduits, with each said parallel conduit includes means for regulating liquid flow therethrough.
 9. A lighter-than-airship system for dispensing large quantities of liquid while in a flight mode over defined ground areas, where lift for said airship system is achieved by means of helium confined therewithin, said airship system comprising: a.) a semi rigid, light-weight frame encased within a flexible skin and aerodynamically configured for flying and hovering over selected ground areas; b.) means for flying said airship system, where said means include a plurality of engines and attitude stabilizing mechanisms to provide 3-axis stability and control; and, c.) a liquid control and dispensing mechanism disposed essentially within said frame, said mechanism including, i.) a liquid containing portable tanker positioned along the center of gravity of said airship system, ii.) a manifold in liquid communication with said portable tanker, where said manifold includes means for controlling the quantity of liquid passing therethrough, and iii.) a liquid distribution, piping and nozzle assembly in liquid communication with said manifold, where said assembly is exposed below said frame.
 10. A lighter-than-air airship system for dispersing large quantities of liquid while in a flight mode over defined ground areas, where lift for said airship system is achieved by means of helium confined within an array of gas impervious spheres, said airship system comprising: a.) a sem-rigid, encircling frame support to contain said helium spheres; b.) means for flying said airship system, and; c.) a liquid control and dispensing mechanism disposed essentially within said frame, said mechanism including, i.) a liquid holding tank positioned along the center of gravity of said airship system, ii.) a manifold in liquid communication with said holding tank, where said manifold includes means for controlling the quantity of liquid passing therethrough, and iii.) a liquid distribution, piping and nozzle assembly in liquid communication with said manifold, where said assembly is exposed below said frame.
 11. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 10, wherein said helium spheres are arranged in a continuous peripheral relationship to define an open space therebetween, and a catch basin within said space open to the exterior of said airship system, for receiving in-flight replenishing of liquid, to feed liquid to said holding tank.
 12. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 11, wherein said catch basin is further defined by a flexible base.
 13. The lighter-than-air airship system according to claim 10, including a plenum below said system, where said plenum forms a part of said liquid distribution, piping and nozzle assembly. 